Two piece wall frame for an opening therein

ABSTRACT

An improved wall frame for inserting into a wall opening, the improvement characterized by the frame being divided into two similar halves. One frame half being further characterized to include a pre-hung door or a pre-installed window or both. One frame half frictionally engaging one side of the wall adjacent to the wall opening, the other frame half frictionally engaging the opposite side of the wall adjacent to the wall opening, and securing means for securing together the two frame halves.

United States Patent [1 1 Faudree Jan. 21, 1975 TWO PIECE WALL FRAME FORAN OPENING THEREIN [76] Inventor: Stan A. Faudree, 1500 A. Exchange,

Oklahoma City, Okla. 73108 [22] Filed: June 25, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.:373,424

[52] US. Cl 52/211, 52/213, 52/DIG. 6

[51] Int. Cl E06b l/l8, E06b 1/30 [58] Field of Search 52/211, 212, 213,217, 52/DIG. 6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,117 4/1956 Tolman52/213 X 2,860,744 11/1958 Mascari 52/212 2,879,560 3/1959 Stefan 52/732722,413 11/1965 Canada 52/213 924,830 5/1963 Great Britain 52/211250,866 9/1947 Switzerland SZ/DIG. 6

Primary ExaminerHenry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. BraunAttorney, Agent, or FirmRobcrt M, Hcssin [57] ABSTRACT An improved wallframe for inserting into a wall opening, the improvement characterizedby the frame being divided into two similar halves. One frame half beingfurther characterized to include a pre-hung door or a pre-installedwindow or both. One frame half frictionally engaging one side of thewall adjacent to the 3,222,833 12/1965 Woodrum 52/211 a p ng, t th frameha f fri ti nally engag- 3,385,004 5/1968 Oehler et al. 52/211 X ing theopposite side of the wall adjacent to the wall 3,721,055 73 Jerchower52/ opening, and securing means for securing together the 3,724,1354/1973 Heliotes 52/213 x two frame halves FOREIGN PATENTS 0RAPPLICATIONS 1,805,629 9/1969 Germany 52/217 10 Claims, 11 DrawingFigures III/J I 40 E .I

PATENTED 1975 3. 861 .099

SHEEI 1 OF. 2

TWO PIECE WALL FRAME FOR AN OPENING TI-IEREIN BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of Invention The invention is used in the field ofresidential and commercial building construction to enable contractorsto quickly and easily install window and door frames and the addedadvantage of the window or door already being preinstalled in the frameprior to installing the frame.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore there have been generally twotypes of wall frames wooden frames and metal frames. Wooden frames arecut and fitted by a carpenter and then the door or window are installedin the frame. This method is both expensive and time-consuming.

There are various types of metal frames using different moldingconstruction, with adjustable frame members, and various methods ofanchoring the frame to the wall opening. There have also been identicalframe members secured to opposite sides of the wall opening, but none ofthese frame members are secured together as shown in the subjectinvention. Also there have been frame members secured to each other in asimilar way as the subject invention, but the members are not identicaland cannot be used interchangeably.

By the present invention, not only does the novel frame structure usesimilar half frame members frictionally engaging each side of the walland secured together, but the invention discloses a novel use of a spikeformed from a frame panel to secure the frame to the wall. Also a dooror window can be pre-installed in one of the frame halves prior toinstalling the frame in the wall opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I The present invention discloses the novelfeatures of using similar halves of a wall frame frictionally engagingthe opposite sides of a wall and secured together.

The frame may also be characterized wherein one of the frame halvesincludes a pre-hung door or an installed window. Also the frame usingcasing members, which are members constructed to be attached to thewall, in combination with vertical mullion members which are notconstructed to attach to the wall and hor izontal transom members whichalso are not constructed to attach to the wall are used to make acombination of side light windows and a transom window adjacent to thedoor.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the cost and timefor a carpenter to cut and fit wooden doors and window frames duringbuilding construction.

It is another object of the present invention to eliminate the cost andtime of installing the windows and hanging the doors by pre-installingthe windows or the door to the frame prior to installing the frame.

It is still a further object of the present invention to reduce themanufacturing costs of metal, plastic or the like wall frames by makingthe frame halves similar so that each frame member is interchangeable.

Still another object of the invention is the use of mu]- lion or transommembers in combination with casing members to form a wall frame whichincludes a door frame plus side light and transom window frames.

It is still further an object of the present invention to stamp out aspike from one of the panels in the frame member to aid in securing thewall frame to the wall.

It is also another object of the present invention that the improvedwall frame can be installed without stop panels so that swinging doorsor windows can be installed.

It is still another object of the present invention that the improvedwall frame can be installed without stop panels and used for a door wayor window opening without installing a door or window in the improvedwall frame.

It is again another object that the improved wall frame because of itssimplified structure can be installed after the room is sheet rocked,painted, cabinets installed, finish work completed, and furniture moved,thus giving greater access into the room and avoiding damage to theframe and the installed doors and windows during building construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following detailed description of the invention is read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view ofan improved wall frame attached to the wall with a door hingablyattached to the improved wall frame.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a sectional piece of the improvedwall frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the improved wall frame showing thereverse side of the sectional piece illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the improved wall frame as a doorframe and illustrating the front casing member and the rear casingmember of the frame with a door attached to the rear casing member.

FIG. 5 illustrates the improved wall frame as a window frame and showsthe front casing member and the rear casing member of the improvedwindow frame.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 and shows a cross sectional view of theimproved wall frame attached to the wall but with a window installed inthe improved wall frame.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an improved wall frame attached tothe wall but illustrated the improved wall frame without stop panels.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a sectional piece of theimproved wall frame shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a sectional piece of ahorizontal transom member intersecting a vertical mullion member used inthe improved wall frame.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view of either the verticalmullion member or the horizontal transom member shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the improved wall frame illustratingthe use of the casing members in combination with the mullion andtransom members to form a door frame with adjacent side light windowsand a transom window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE- PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG.1 the improved wall frame is generally designated by reference numberattached to wall 12 and door 14 hingably attached by hinge 16 to theimproved wall frame 10. Wall 12 is characterized by sheet rock 18 andwooden wall stud 20. The improved wall frame 10 is characterized byfirst elongated casing member 22 and second elongated casing member 24secured together by securing means such as a metal screw 26. The firstelongated casing member 22 frictionally engages wall 12 by rear casingpanel 28 and aided by spike 30 inserted into sheet rock 18. The firstelongated casing member is further characterized by side casing panel 32substantially perpendicular to wall 12 and integrally attached to rearcasing panel 28. Front casing panel 34 is substantially parallel to wall12 and integrally attached to side casing panel 32. Jamb casing panel 36is substantially perpendicular to said wall 12 and integrally attachedto front casing panel 34. The front stop panel 38 is substantiallyparallel to wall 12 and integrally attached to jamb casing panel 36.Side stop casing panel 40 is substantially perpendicular to wall 12 andintegrally attached to front stop casing panel 38. Rear stop casingpanel 42 is substantially parallel to wall 12 and integrally attached toside stop casing panel 40.

Second elongated casing member 24 which is generally similar in crosssection to first elongated casing member 22 is characterized by the samereference numbers used in illustrating the panels described in firstelongated casing member 22.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved wall frame 10 shown in FIG.1 and illustrates elongated casing member 22 and second elongated casingmember 24 securably attached by securing means 26.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the improved wall frame 10 shown in FIG. 2 andfurther illustrates spike 30 which is stamped out of rear casing panel28.

FIG. 4 illustrates an improved door frame 44 using the first elongatedcasing member 22 comprised of a horizontal head section 46 secured to avertical jamb section 48 and a vertical hinge section 50. Secondelongated casing member 24 is generally of similar cross section tofirst elongated casing member 22 but in addition includes door 14hingably attached to vertical hinge section 50.

FIG. illustrates an improved window frame 52 using first elongatedcasing member 22 which includes an upper horizontal section 54 and alower horizontal section 56 and two vertical side sections 58 secured tothe upper section 54 and the lower section 56.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 except that rather than door 14 beinghingably attached to the second elongated casing member 24 a window 60is secured to the second elongated casing member 24 and held in positionby a window stop 62.

In operation the improved wall frame shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 can beassembled by forming elongated casing members 22 and 24 to the desiredangular shape using conventional metal forming presses, roller, or metalextrusion type machines. Also at this time the angular spike 30 can beformed from the rear casing panel 28. Members 22 and 24 then can be cutto the desired lengths. Next various lengths of members 22 and 24 beingof similar cross section can be secured together by welding or similarsecuring means to form an improved door frame 44 shown in FIG. 4 or animproved window frame 52 shown in FIG. 5.

In making the improved door frame 44 the first elongated casing member22 of door frame 44 would be positioned into the wall opening and spikes30 hammered into the sheet rock to secure frame 44 to the wall. On

the opposite side of the wall the second elongated casing member 24would be positioned into the wall opening and spikes 30 hammered intosheet rock. When this is completed securing means 26 would then fastentogether stop panels 42 ofcasing members 22 and 24 thus completing theinstallation of door frame 44.

Also door 14 can be pre-hung by hinge 16 to casing member 24 prior toinstalling the improved door frame 44 or after frame 44 is installed.

Improved window frame 52 would be installed in a wall opening similar toimproved door frame 44 and window 60 can be installed before or afterframe 52 is completed.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of an improved wall frame 63 and similarto the cross section view shown in FIG. 1 but without front stop casingpanel 38, side stop casing panel 40 and rear stop casing panel 42 butincludes stop casing panel 64 which is substantially parallel to wall 12and integrally connected to jamb casing panel 36.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the improved wall frame 63 shown in FIG.7 and illustrated to show an improved wall frame where stop panels wouldnot be required as an integral part of the frame.

Improved wall frame 63 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is an alternativestructure to improved wall frame 10 and frame 63 would be used wherestop panels are not required in a wall frame. In operation the wallframe would be assembled and installed in the same manner as wall frame10. Improved wall frame 63 could be used where a wall frame is desiredbut no window or door is installed. Also, frame 63 could be used forinstalling swinging doors or swinging windows and stop panels are notrequired.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a first elongated horizontal transommember 66 secured to a second elongated horizontal transom member 68 bysecuring means 26 and a first elongated vertical mullion member 70secured to a second elongated vertical mullion member 72 bysecuringmeans 26. The transom members intersect the mullion membersperpendicularly and are securably attached thereto.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of vertical mullion members 70 and 72which are also generally similar in cross section to the horizontaltransom members 66 and 68. The first elongated mullion member 70 ischaracterized by a front panel 74 parallel to the wall, two jamb panels76 substantially perpendicular to the wall and integrally connected toeach side of front panel 74, two front stop panels 78 beingsubstantially parallel to the wall and integrally connected to jambpanels 76, two side stop panels 80 perpendicular to the wall andintegrally connected to the front stop panels 78, two rear stop panels82 substantially parallel to the wall and integrally connected to sidestop panels 80. The second elongated mullion member 72 being generallyof similar cross section to the first elongated mullion member 70 ischaracterized by the same panel designations and is secured to the firstelongated mullion member 70 by securing means 26.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an improved door and window frame 84illustrating the use of first elongated casing member 24 attached tofirst elongated transom member 66 and first elongated mullion member 70to form a door opening, transom window. and side light windows andattached to one side of the wall. Second elongated casing member 22 isattached to secnd elongated transom member 68 and second elongatedmullion member 72 to form a generally similar cross sectional frame halfto be attached to the opposite side of the wall opening and the memberssecured together by securing means 26.

In operation the improved door and window frame 84 shown in FIG. 11 isassembled and installed using the same method described in installingthe improved door frame illustrated in FIG. 4. It should be pointed outthat the mullion members and transom members shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11are used only for framing doors and windows but would not be used forattachment to the walls surrounding the wall opening. In this instancecasing members would be used.

The foregoing illustrates and describes the novel teachings with respectto improved wall frames for inserting into a wall opening and engagingthe untrimmed wall. Employment of these teachings will greatly reducethe time and cost of labor of installing doors and windows in theconstruction of homes and buildings. Changes may be made in combinationand arrangement of the elements as heretofore set forth in thespecification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that thechanges may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed i:

1. An improved two-piece wall frame for disposition in a wall opening insecure engagement with the untrimmed wall, the improvement comprising:

a first elongated unitary casing member having a side casing panelsubstantially perpendicular to said wall and including plural fasteningmeans for embedded engagement in the wall, a front casing panelintegrally connected to said side casing panel and substantiallyparallel to said wall, a jamb casing panel integrally connected to saidfront casing image position to said first elongated casing member withsaid rear stop casing panels in abuttment; and a securing means forinsertion through said first casing member front stop panel and rearstop panel for rigid fastening to said second casing member rear stoppanel to rigidly affix said first and second casing members in embeddedengagement with the wall.

2. An improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first andsecond elongated casing members include a rear casing panelsubstantially parallel to said wall and integrally formed with sidecasing panel and said rear casing panel frictionally engages said wall.

3. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidfastening means is an angular shaped spike stamped out of said rearcasing panel and oriented for forced insertion into said waall.

4. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securingmeans is-a metal screw.

5. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame ismade of metal.

6. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame ismade of plastic.

7. An improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame isused for a door opening and said I first elongated casing membercomprises a horizontal head section secured to a vertical jamb sectionand a vertical hinge section for insertion into said door opening andsaid second elongated casing member is of similar cross-section to saidfirst elongated casing member for juxtaposition and fastening to theopposite side of said door opening.

8. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 7 wherein a door ispre-hung on the vertical hinge section of said first elongated casingmember prior to insertion into said door opening.

9. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame isused for a window opening and said first elongated casing membercomprises a horizontal upper and lower section each secured between twovertical side sections for insertion into said wall opening, and saidsecond elongated casing member is of similar cross-section to said firstelongated member for juxtaposition and fastening to the opposite side ofsaid window oening.

10. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 9 wherein a window issecured to the window frame section prior to insertion into said windowopening. 50

1. An improved two-piece wall frame for disposition in a wall opening insecure engagement with the untrimmed wall, the improvement comprising: afirst elongated unitary casing member having a side casing panelsubstantially perpendicular to said wall and including plural fasteningmeans for embedded engagement in the wall, a front Casing panelintegrally connected to said side casing panel and substantiallyparallel to said wall, a jamb casing panel integrally connected to saidfront casing panel and substantially perpendicular to said wall, a frontstop casing panel integrally connected to said jamb casing panel andsubstantially paralllel to said wall, a side stop casing panelintegrally connected to said front stop casing panel and substantiallyperpendicular to said wall, and a rear stop casing panel integrallyconnected to said guide stop casing panel and substantially parallel tosaid wall; a second elongated unitary casing member being of generallysimilar cross-section to said first elongated casing member and inembedded engagement with the opposite side of said wall in mirror imageposition to said first elongated casing member with said rear stopcasing panels in abuttment; and a securing means for insertion throughsaid first casing member front stop panel and rear stop panel for rigidfastening to said second casing member rear stop panel to rigidly affixsaid first and second casing members in embedded engagement with thewall.
 2. An improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidfirst and second elongated casing members include a rear casing panelsubstantially parallel to said wall and integrally formed with sidecasing panel and said rear casing panel frictionally engages said wall.3. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidfastening means is an angular shaped spike stamped out of said rearcasing panel and oriented for forced insertion into said waall.
 4. Theimproved wall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securing meansis a metal screw.
 5. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 1wherein the frame is made of metal.
 6. The improved wall frame as setforth in claim 1 wherein the frame is made of plastic.
 7. An improvedwall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame is used for a dooropening and said first elongated casing member comprises a horizontalhead section secured to a vertical jamb section and a vertical hingesection for insertion into said door opening and said second elongatedcasing member is of similar cross-section to said first elongated casingmember for juxtaposition and fastening to the opposite side of said dooropening.
 8. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 7 wherein adoor is pre-hung on the vertical hinge section of said first elongatedcasing member prior to insertion into said door opening.
 9. The improvedwall frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame is used for awindow opening and said first elongated casing member comprises ahorizontal upper and lower section each secured between two verticalside sections for insertion into said wall opening, and said secondelongated casing member is of similar cross-section to said firstelongated member for juxtaposition and fastening to the opposite side ofsaid window oening.
 10. The improved wall frame as set forth in claim 9wherein a window is secured to the window frame section prior toinsertion into said window opening.